Carlton Power of the United Kingdom (UK) has received planning permission for the world’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) from Trafford Council, the company said in a press release on Monday.
Carlton’s 1 gigawatt (GW) BESS, located at Greater Manchester’s Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, is expected to cost $962 million (GBP 750 million). The planned BESS will “strengthen the security and resilience of the energy system in North West England and support the energy transition and growth of renewable energy generation in the region,” the company said in the press release. Formerly the site of Carrington Coal Station, Trafford Energy Park is being developed as a multi-faceted energy development area to support Greater Manchester’s 2038 net zero target, according to Carlton’s website.
The Trafford project is still subject to a final investment decision. Carlton expects construction to begin in the first quarter of 2024 and commercial operations to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Carlton said it is in “advanced discussions” with undisclosed companies to finance, build and operate the Trafford BESS.
Carlton has a second project approved at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in the 200 megawatt (MW) Trafford Green Hydrogen project, with the first phase of 15 to 20 MW expected to enter commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the press release.
The Trafford Green Hydrogen project was approved by Trafford Council in September 2022, making it the largest green hydrogen scheme in the UK, according to Carlton. In March 2023, the UK’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) pre-selected the first phase of $64 million (GBP 50 million) green hydrogen to receive financial support from the UK government’s Hydrogen Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen Fund in the first round of hydrogen allocations, Carlton said, adding that it also recently obtained planning permission for the UK’s first hydrogen pipeline.
“Carlton Power acquired the former coal-fired power station in 2008 to redevelop the site for new energy projects,” Carlton chief executive Keith Clarke said. “With BESS approval, this brings the total investment value of the site to £2 billion [$2.6 billion], which will bring significant economic benefits to the Greater Manchester region and help achieve regional net zero targets. The investment in the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park during the next [two to five] years demonstrates Carlton’s vision and long-term commitment to revitalizing the Trafford venue.”
“The Trafford BESS, together with the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, places Trafford and Greater Manchester at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition,” said Councilor Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Green City-Region Leader. “Both schemes will help tackle our climate crisis, one of Trafford Council’s corporate priorities, and support our region’s plan to achieve a net zero carbon emissions target by 2038. I applaud Carlton Power’s long-term vision in developing the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.”
Chris McKerrow, Carlton Power’s head of European BESS development, added that the BESS “will make a significant contribution to the resilience of the North West’s energy system”.
“Trafford Council and other local organisations, such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, recognize the importance of the BESS and the Green Hydrogen scheme for the energy transition, for inward investment and for the regeneration of land, much of it vacant for over 20 years. We are delighted to have gained planning consent for the world’s largest BESS and our focus is now on funding and building the scheme,” added McKerrow.
In addition to Carlton Power’s two projects, Highview Power Storage Inc. plans to build and operate a $320.65 million (GBP 250 million) 250 megawatt-hour cryogenic energy storage system at Trafford Energy Park. The park is close to the Manchester Ship Canal and the $962 million (GBP 750 million) Carrington Gas Flexible Power Station, which began operating in 2016, according to the press release.
According to the company’s website, Carlton develops energy projects in the UK and Europe and has completed 2200MW, or eight per cent of the UK’s combined cycle gas turbine projects to date.
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